WASHINGTON, DC – The Energy and Commerce Committee, chaired by Rep. Greg Walden (R-OR), today passed eight #SubEnergy and #SubEnvironment bills aimed at modernizing the nation’s energy infrastructure, environmental laws and enhances the nation’s energy security.

“In my home state of Oregon, these bills will help us unlock hydropower’s potential, take steps towards cleaning up the Hanford site, and strengthen the Brownfields Program to redevelop contaminated sites,” said Chairman Walden. “All that we do here, we do for our constituents back home that sent us to Washington to get things done. While these bills may not grab the headlines they deserve, lets be real, we did some big things here today that will have tremendous impact on consumers, the environment, and the economy in the years ahead.”

Rep. Olson delivers comments on his bill, H.R. 806

H.R. 806, Ozone Standards Implementation Act of 2017, introduced by #SubEnergy Vice Chairman Pete Olson (R-TX), with Rep. Bill Flores (R-TX), and House Majority Whip Steve Scalise (R-LA), among others, would;

• Provide states the flexibility needed to implement the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for ground-level ozone on an efficient and realistic timeline. H.R. 806 would ensure the nation’s infrastructure and manufacturing permitting continue while making improvements to air quality.


• In October of 2015, while states and communities were just beginning to implement the 2008 ozone standard following long-overdue EPA guidance, EPA revised those standards and imposed additional new planning and compliance obligations on states.


• For a fact sheet on the bill, click HERE.


• H.R. 806 passed by a vote of 29-24 as amended.

Rep. Hudson listens in as members debate

H.R. 2786, to amend the Federal Power Act with respect to the criteria and process to qualify as a qualifying conduit hydropower facility, authored by committee member Rep. Richard Hudson (R-NC), would;

• Promote the development of small conduit hydropower facilities, an emerging new source of renewable energy that can be added to existing infrastructure.


• H.R. 2786 passed by a voice vote.

Rep. Mullin reviews notes on his bill, H.R. 2883, ahead of debate

H.R. 2883, Promoting Cross-Border Energy Infrastructure Act, authored by committee member Rep. Markwayne Mullin (R-OK), would;

• Establish a predictable and transparent process to permit the construction of cross-border pipelines and electric facilities.


• H.R. 2883 passed by a vote of 31-20.

Rep. Flores prepares his remarks ahead of debate on his bill

H.R. 2910, Promoting Interagency Coordination for Review of Natural Gas Pipelines Act, authored by committee member Rep. Bill Flores (R-TX), would;

• Promote better coordination among FERC and other agencies involved in siting interstate natural gas pipelines. H.R. 2910 also increases transparency and accountability by requiring more information to be disclosed to the public.


• H.R. 2910 passed by a vote of 30-23.

Rep. McKinley talks about his bipartisan Brownfields bill

H.R. 3017, Brownfields Enhancement Economic Redevelopment and Reauthorization Act of 2017, authored by #SubEnvironment Vice Chairman David McKinley (R-WV), would;

• Reauthorize and make improvements to the EPA Brownfields Program, encourages EPA, states, and local governments to work together to redevelop properties, create jobs, and provide for economic development.


• H.R. 3017 passed the committee by voice vote.

Rep. McMorris Rodgers talks about the importance of hydropower as Rep. Latta looks on

H.R. 3043, Hydropower Policy Modernization Act of 2017, authored by committee member and Conference Chair Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA), would;

• Modernize federal policies by designating FERC as the lead agency for licensing hydropower projects. H.R. 3043 would promote affordable, reliable, and renewable hydropower energy.


• H.R. 3043 passed by voice vote.

Rep. Upton discusses his bill during debate

H.R. 3050, Enhancing State Energy Security Planning and Emergency Preparedness Act, authored by #SubEnergy Chairman Fred Upton (R-MI), would;

• Enhance the energy emergency planning requirements of the Energy Policy and Conservation Act to strengthen the capability of states to secure the energy infrastructure of the United States against physical and cybersecurity threats; and mitigate risk of energy supply disruptions.


• H.R. 3050 passed the committee by voice vote.

Rep. Shimkus talks through his bill, H.R. 3053

H.R. 3053, the Nuclear Waste Policy Amendments Act of 2017, authored by #SubEnvironment Chairman John Shimkus (R-IL), would;

• Preserve Yucca Mountain as the most expeditious path for spent nuclear fuel and high-level radioactive waste disposal while authorizing interim storage, including private storage initiatives, to provide optionality until Yucca Mountain is fully licensed and prepared to receive shipments.


• Spent nuclear fuel sits idle in 121 communities across 39 states because the country lacks a permanent geologic repository. H.R. 3053 provides practical reforms to the nation’s nuclear waste management policy to ensure the federal government’s legal obligations to dispose of spent nuclear fuel and high-level waste be fulfilled.


• For a fact sheet on the bill, click HERE.


• H.R. 3053 passed by a vote of 49-4.

Electronic copies of the legislation, a background memo, amendment text and votes can be found at the Energy and Commerce Committee’s website here. 

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